George Muschal to serve as Trenton mayor through July and remain council president

TRENTON — Despite concerns from some council members and residents that serving as city council president and mayor would be too much power for one person, George Muschal was voted in to serve as interim mayor until July 1.

Muschal was sworn in as acting mayor Feb. 26, hours after a state judge ruled that Tony Mack should be removed from office because of his Feb. 7 conviction on six federal corruption charges.

The council voted 5-2 to approve Muschal, with council members Alex Bethea and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson voting against.

“This is a problem, I feel, to hold both positions,” Reynolds-Jackson said before the vote.

She said that while she has the utmost confidence that Muschal will serve the city to the best of his ability, it is a heavy burden to be both a councilman and mayor.

Assistant city attorney Peter Cohen said the law department examined the legality of having Muschal serve as both council president and mayor, saying it is “clear and unequivocal” that it is legal.

“I still wonder if it is faithful to the people of Trenton,” said Beau Nelson, a resident who expressed his concerns to council before the vote.

Nelson said that while he is supportive of Muschal, he believes that out of a sense of transparency, Muschal should not continue to serve in both offices.

“A mayor and council structure are meant to be checks and balances,” Nelson said.

Bethea said he would have supported the selection of Business Administrator Sam Hutchinson to the office, saying he has proven his ability to keep city operations running even under the shadow of Mack’s administration.

“He has done a yeoman’s job in keeping this city together,” Bethea said. “He worked hard day and night.”

But Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said the last thing the city needs is more instability.

“It would be selfish to put the city under more stress,” Holly-Ward said.

Muschal said he is willing and able to wear both hats.

“I’m here for one purpose only — to move the city forward,” Muschal said. “The next four months, you are going to see such an improvement.”

Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson applauded Muschal for making headway during his first week as mayor to make improvements around the city and in City Hall.

Since he stepped into the Mayor’s Office for his first full day at work last week, Muschal has fired three Mack allies and organized department directors, saying he will hold them accountable for their staff and actions.

“The city will be safe, it will be clean and it will be prosperous again,” Muschal said.